～ vierundzwanzig
～
“Of every tree of the garden
thou mayest freely eat:
But, of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
not eat of it:
For
in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
The sin
humans carry from birth.
—
Possessing the name of the original sin, the stone is.
“The Death of the Key” itself, said to be the judgment given as
consequence for the sin. The price for the hubris of granting a wish
that never should have been obtainable.
However.
Is
“Death,” truly something which she must receive?
She, who never ate the tree’s fruit.
Just
what, was her sin?
【
vierundzwanzig ～
(Name) ～ 】
The inside
of my head, had become empty. I wasn’t thinking, of anything.
“Nanoha.”
Hey, this isn’t true, is it?
Because, we were so very—... so, very.
“Nano, ha... Nanoha.”
There was
no response.
Warmth
gradually left the body I embraced. It was unbearably terrifying. Trying to
give her my warmth, I tightly embraced her.
— Something like that, wasn’t going to bring Nanoha back.
I didn’t want to accept it. I didn’t
want to comprehend it. But, there was nothing else I could do.
“—, u...
Ah,”
— My voice
strangled, I cried.
“... Fate-chan.”
Hayate’s voice, was hoarse as
well. — How much time has passed? The sun had completely fallen, and it
had already become dark.
I didn’t
care anymore.
“— Hayate. Why don’t you... head back...”
“Fate-chan, — You aren’t getting any
foolish ideas, are you?”
I tightened
the arms I embraced Nanoha with. The sleeves that had
soaked up the warmth that flowed from Nanoha, were now completely cold.
“Am I
wrong!? I’m not, am I!?”
“—...”
Nanoha is not
“I know
that... I... know, but-”
in this world.
At the
words that floated at the edges of my head, I felt terribly nauseous. My
stomach felt torn to pieces. I grasped my chest tightly, and felt a hardness
sweep down to my toes.
The stone
that I still held in my hand, transmitted that feeling from my fingertips.
— Perhaps because the warmth of my palm had spread to it, it was slightly
warm.
No, rather—
It was hot.
“— eh...?”
Something
felt wrong about this.
From the
time I picked up the stone until the time she took it, I had always been
grasping it in my palm. — It hadn’t been so long ago, but it felt like ages.
At that
time— had it been this warm, held this much heat?
I gently
released my palm that had been tightly grasping it. There indeed, was the
stone. — But, its appearance was different from usual.
“... Red?”
Just like
that time. — No, more so than then, it was a much deeper red. At a glance it
truly appeared to be a mass of blood.
“—! Fate-chan, let
me see that!”
At my
murmured words, Hayate stared at what was in my palm.
After opening her eyes widely, she immediately called over the Guardian Knights
who had remained nearby.
“Shamal! I think it’ll be tough, but open a magic circle and
keep it going!”
“R-Right!”
At Hayate’s words, she spread a circle at Nanoha’s
feet.
Faint light
covered Nanoha’s body. To support it, the three other
Guardian Knights opened circles.
“— Haya, te?
What are—?”
— If Nanoha’s wound could be
healed, it would have already, so why?
“Fate-chan, does Nanoha-chan have any cartridges left!?”
At those
words I hurriedly examined the magazine. Ging,
it made a shrill metallic sound. Peeking out, were three remaining cartridges.
“There are
three left!”
“That’s
plenty! Fate-chan, hold Nanoha-chan!”
I didn’t
understand Hayate’s actions, but as she said, I
tightened my arms around Nanoha.
“The stone,
it’s activating.”
“— Eh?”
I peered at
the stone in my palm. It was casting a dull— and feeble, red light.
“With just
that much a link was established. In the end, that girl turned out to be
useful!”
“—... A, link?”
As if to
say I didn’t understand, I stared at Hayate. She continued,
“Can I save the detailed explanation for afterward?”
“I had my
doubts for a long time. I’ve been investigating— since the night the stone was
stolen.”
“—
Investigating what?”
“The reason
its name came from Erbsünde.”
“The old
story,” Hayate continued.
“I borrowed
a key for a bit, and snuck into the classified storage department of the
castle’s library. I searched through the historical records there. In those
pages, there were three recorded incidents of the stone being activated. But in
each case, the result was that the stone activated, but not successfully.”
“— Wh, y?”
“Before granting the wish. The stone— devoured the key.”
“— De, voured?”
At these
disturbing words I frowned unconsciously. Then, Hayate
frowned in the same way and breathed a sigh.
She took
several slow, deep breaths, and continued speaking.
“At the
moment it’s immersed in the key’s magical energy, the
stone reads the magical energy waves and links with the key’s Linker Core. It
seems that because the key, which it always links with beforehand, one-sidedly
supplies the magical energy, the stone is able to manifest its own power.”
“So the
supplying— isn’t just temporary.”
“Though it seems that the forced circulation is also due to the
amount of magical energy. The human acting as the key’s magical energy,
her soul, everything... It’s all consumed and exhausted to grant the wish... a
sinful power. The one knowing that and still requesting the wish is even more
sinful.”
Having said
this much, Hayate continued, “It’s detestable.” I
glanced at the stone laying in my palm, then took my eyes from it, and looked
up at the dark sky.
“Desiring
the stone is itself— a sin. It’s a power no human should ever seek. That is the
origin of its name.
“... I
understand that. — But, why... is it still... activating—?”
Without a supply source, it can’t maintain its power. —
Even if it doesn’t happen immediately, won’t it stop at some point?
“Though
it’s unstable, a connective link was established. Because of that, the stone is
retaining a large quantity of Nanoha-chan’s magical
energy. But— from here on, if a wish is successfully made, the amount of energy
it will use is unknown. Even though the supply source is cut off now, there is
the possibility that after some time it will be restored... Then, what do you
think the stone will do?”
“—..., You, don’t mean—!”
“Bingo. If
the supply can come from the key, it can also come from the stone. It makes
sense. From a lot, to a little. —... As for whether
that will work in reality... I honestly never thought about it.”
Hurriedly I
put my ear against Nanoha’s breast.
“The third princess to be the key. — She
left just one record.”
— Her body
that was still cold and without warmth. Her pulse that up
until now couldn’t be heard. Her heart that should be
stopped after rapidly losing so much blood.
Thump.
“—, Nanoha!”
“If you
think about it, it was originally Nanoha-chan’s. It’s
not hard to believe.”
It was
weak. But—, undoubtedly, there was a sound.
“Luckily,
before she went into cardiac arrest from hemorrhagic shock, she connected,
though weakly, with the stone. — But, as it is now, there isn‘t enough blood
for either side. Even counting the stone’s, the amount still isn’t enough.”
“So.”
“She’s
actually coming back— we’ve got to hurry! In the end, that princess didn’t have
a means of replenishing her magical energy, and bled to death.”
Hayate moved her gaze to Raising Heart, and after a moment,
closed her eyes. — Then, she took a single deep breath.
“But this
time, we have Shamal. — Though
it’s risky, we have a way to do a blood transfusion.”
“—, What do we have to do!?”
“Overload
her cartridges and distribute the magical energy that Raising Heart had
swallowed into Nanoha-chan’s body. — But with that,
even though magical energy can be stored when the stone hasn‘t activated, that
energy will also eventually be taken up by the stone.”
— As if, she were remembering something. Hayate
shook her head several times. After a few moments, she activated the Device she
held.
“Thus— in
this case, we’ll simultaneously activate the stone. — Before
it flows into the stone, at the same moment that Nanoha-chan’s
consciousness is restored— we’ll forcibly sever the connected link.”
“Is that
possible?”
“Whether it
will succeed or not— I don’t know either. There’s no precedent for it at all.
It may be, that the supplied magical energy, the soul, everything will be
exhausted, and only the stone will activate. If this happens, the key, Nanoha-chan, will—,”
Cutting off
the words she was about to say, Hayate hesitantly
closed her mouth. From her lips that she bit down on tightly— “We won’t be able
to save Nanoha-chan.”
I heard a
small voice.
“— Let’s do it. If there’s any hope at all, I want to try!”
At those
words, Hayate smiled wryly. “That’s the same thing Nanoha-chan said before.”
“Loading
with a different Device might be a little rough. Will you be alright?”
At those
words I nodded.
I placed
Raising Heart in Nanoha’s hands, and put my own hands
over them to cover them.
“I’ll be
fine, Hayate.”
Before me Hayate spread a large magic circle, and slowly closed her
eyes. — She began the incantation.
“— Through this, you and I. Call forth the engraved contract.”
At that
voice, that light of the stone greatly increased. Badum, a pulse-like magical
energy wave covered the area surrounding the stone.
Hey, Nanoha.
“The blue moon. The
red sea. — Within the eternal prison, I sing of
my sins.”
I want to hear your
voice.
“With
this condemnation, destroy the sacrifice I offer you.”
Taking the
cue from Hayate’s raised hand, I loaded one
cartridge. Badum, there was a small sound, and
the red gem in the center swallowed up Nanoha’s
magical energy.
Raising
Heart gave off a dim, faint light.
I
immediately loaded the second. Again, there was the sound of swallowing.
After a moment, Nanoha’s left arm
was covered in a soft cherry-blossom light.
Pashin. I heard a small sound. — White,
tore open.
“—, Shamal-sensei!”
“It’s alright, I’m keeping the circle going! Don’t stop!”
Nanoha’s hand, and my hand that
covered it. Were wrapped by warm— cherry-blossom light.
“Please—
wake up?”
I loaded,
“— I
ask, here and now.”
the third cartridge.
“Nanoha”
“To
this foolish one— who tried to extol the paradise in her hands,”
A wave of
magical energy that seemed to burn through my body, colored the area with a
single stroke.
“I’m
begging you-”
Tightly, I
embraced the body in my arms.
I’m begging you.
I don’t want anything else.
So.
Please— come back-!
“Until you
wake up,”
“Leave
nothing, and offer judgment.”
— The
stone, before my eyes.
“—, Fate-chan! It’s activating!”
Everything.
“I’ll keep
calling your name”
Was covered in a great flash.
“Nanoha”
The world, was bathed in a flood of light. I couldn’t see the
palm my own hand.
Amidst
this, I did nothing but. Embrace Nanoha tightly.
“—, —”
“—? ...—”
I heard someone’s voice.
A voice I
had missed— terribly.
“u... Fa... te,
cha...?”
At that
voice I frantically listened, and from her breast, I heard a hoarse, tiny
voice. — To answer it. I further tightened the arms I embraced her with.
After a few
moments, my embrace was returned by a soft, gentle
warmth.
Thump, thump.
Quieter than normal, slow beats. When I understood what they
meant— I wanted to cry.
“Nanoha-!”
Tink.
Within this
pure-white world— something made a sound.
It was
coming from inside my palm.
— Chink,
a minute fracture formed in it. I felt it crack, and fall to my feet.
“—, uu...”
The magical
energy wave covering the area was already a shadow of its former self, the
flash fading. — The world, rapidly regained its natural color.
But my
vision, still receiving the after effects, was flickering and hazy, and
couldn’t view it. Even after rubbing my irritated eyes, the scenery was
distorted, covered only by black shadows.
Even when I
tried my best to open them, it wasn’t easy.
“—”
I felt by
touch.
The feeling of silk. — A ribbon? Gradually my fingertips
slid downward, and touched soft hair.
I brushed
along hair that was tied off to the side, following it down to arrive at the
nape of the neck.
— It was
soft. And it was terribly, warm.
“Nanoha,”
I touched
those cheeks, then wrapped them with both hands.
Moving my fingertips slightly, I touched the refined bridge of a nose.
I gradually
could no longer be satisfied with just touching with my palms, and brought my
cheek close. My nose was tickled by a sweet scent. A quiet exhalation, brushed
against my forehead.
“Mm...,”
A hoarse voice. Touching my cheek, were slightly shaking
fingertips. After a short while, it was wrapped by a warm palm.
Soon—
before my opening field of vision, deep blue was reflected.
“Fa... te... cha...?”
“—, Nanoha-!”
Tears
overflowed. The scenery blurred.
“— This isn’t a dream? It’s real!?”
“Yes. ...
I’m here.”
I heard
your voice, Nanoha said. As
my awareness was vanishing. As the world was
crumbling.
I heard
your voice, calling my name.
“I’m home—,
Fate-chan.”
“—,
Welcome, home. Nanoha.”
Ragged,
falling tears ran onto Nanoha’s face. Seeing this, Nanoha smiled widely and troubledly.
“Don’t
cry...? Fate-chan.”
“—”
“It’s
alright, it’s alright.” With a hand that still hadn’t recovered its strength,
she softly stroked my head.
“Nanoha—, Nanoha-”
“I’m here.
I’m still— by your side.”
I embraced,
and was embraced.
“hu, u...
Ah, u, Aah... hu”
The feel of that
hand, cut the strained thread of tension.
“—, uah, Aah...!”
I couldn’t
keep talking, my tears wouldn’t stop.
“Nanoha-chan!
Fate-chan!”
Hayate came rushing over, and embraced us.
“Thank
God.” Again and again her fingertips crawled over Nanoha’s
cheeks, wiping the blood off. She hugged my shoulder. “Thank God!”
Like this,
her voice rose into loud sobs.
“... The
stone broke, huh...”
Picking up
the stone that had fallen at our feet, Nanoha
murmured this.
— I didn’t
know why something that was so solid broke.
Was the
severing of the link with Nanoha too much of a strain
on it? Or, was it simply to grant my “wish”?
Whichever
it was, it was so cracked it was barely keeping its shape, and cast no light.
— There was just that dull-blue color, illuminated by the moonlight.
Nanoha gazed at the stone in thought. But after a moment,
she tightly gripped her hand that held the stone in its palm.
Pakin, there was a
small sound.
She tilted
her opened palm. The stone fragments whose original form was completely
destroyed, fell as if the ground was breathing them in.
— Soon,
that color was completely lost.
“... Shall
we go home? ... With everyone. —... To
Eldorado.”
“— That’s right. Let’s go. With everyone!”
Nanoha staggered slightly when she stood, and I took her
into my arms. When I smiled at her as she twisted her body embarrassedly, her
face instantly turned red.
“— This time, we’ll go home together. Nanoha.”
“Yes. Let’s
go home, Fate-chan.”
As we took
a few steps forward, across the far, distant sky. From the
direction of Eldorado, faintly. — But, clearly.
The peal of bells
sounding the end of the war, could be heard.
___________________________________________________________________________________
